Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485)

[Baroness of Books]

I'm still hoping Richard III will be interred at York Minster and with a service befitting his rank and faith. However, the DM claims that he'll be buried in Leicester Cathedral nearby the car park. I'm wondering if there will be a resurgence of interest in this monarch; there was mention that a screenwriter's work on Richard has been turned into a script for film and television.

I hope there's some way the U.S. audience will be able to watch this documentary online.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...A-testing.html

[An Ard Ri]

Richard III: King In The Car Park | Monday, 9pm | Channel 4

Richard III: King In The Car Park | Monday, 9pm | Channel 4 - YouTube

[LadyoftheLake]

I am certainly looking forward to hearing what the results are and how his remains will be dealt with.

Am also a bit annoyed that the thread I started, just after the bones were discovered, was removed and yet it only talked about the links that are shown above.

[Tudur rose]

I am so excited and for the documentary on channel 4 tomorrow at 9 pm . There will be a facial reconstruction it seems too .

[Baroness of Books]

I saw that in the trailer; I love facial reconstructions and really hope we on the other side of the pond can get to see this doc. Maybe there will be link, fingers crossed! I wonder how much the reconstruction will look like Richard's famous portrait?

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Tudur rose

I am so excited and for the documentary on channel 4 tomorrow at 9 pm . There will be a facial reconstruction it seems too .

Yes its exciting and its seems to have sparked a lot of interest in Richard III!

[padams2359]

It is all very interesting. I wonder what caused the search to turn to a public car park, and I am sure it took some very interesting research and a substantial amount of convincing to allow it to be dug up. That does not happen on a whim. After all, it isn't an empty field on a farm somewhere.

[Baroness of Books]

I forgot how this all started. Did archeologists know what was under the car park that led to it being excavated? Or was work being done on the car park and the workers stumbled across this site accidentally which caused this excavation.

[SLV]

Originally Posted by Baroness of Books

I forgot how this all started. Did archeologists know what was under the car park that led to it being excavated? Or was work being done on the car park and the workers stumbled across this site accidentally which caused this excavation.

I believe it was the former.

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by Baroness of Books

I forgot how this all started. Did archeologists know what was under the car park that led to it being excavated? Or was work being done on the car park and the workers stumbled across this site accidentally which caused this excavation.

Basically, they were aware that there were ruins of a former cathedral under the car park and there was a chance that they would find clues about Richard's whereabouts there. I don't think they actually expected to find his body even though some 18th and 19th century sources pointed out the location as the King's possible burial place.

[Valerie Rose]

Fascinating indeed. Looking forward to seeing the documentary.
"...nothing hidden that will not be disclosed", indeed...
[Luke 8:17]

[EIIR]

Academics from the University of Leicester are currently announcing whether the bones they found belonged to Richard III. It's live on BBC News and Sky News, available in the usual places for those overseas.

They certainly aren't underselling it! We're getting lots of detail when all we want to know is if it's RIII or not! They claim what they've discovered is "absolutely astonishing".

[EIIR]

The skull discovered by the archeologists can be seen here:

BBC News - Richard III dig: Skull image released ahead of DNA results

The press conference is being streamed here, not sure if it's open to those outside the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21319148

[EIIR]

The DNA indicates that the skeleton is that of Richard III. He will be re-interred at Leicester Cathedral, which is in keeping with accepted archeological practice of burying remains in the nearest sacred site to where they were found, and the instructions of the Ministry of Justice.

Well done to all at the University of Leicester.

[Elly C]

The remains are to be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral and a special visitors' exhibition is to be put in place next year.

[EIIR]

A fantastic achievement by all involved. The curvature of the spine is quite astonishing. Without it Richard III would've stood 5'8 which is above average for a medieval male, but the curvature meant he was actually considerably shorter. He also apparently had a very slim, almost feminine build. The skull showed 8 injuries, mainly caused by a weapon with a blade as opposed to arrows.

It'll be interesting to see the facial reconstruction on the documentary tonight. I'm out this evening but have the Sky+ ready to go!

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by Artemisia

I agree with you; Richard III lived and died a Catholic and that should be respected. I very much doubt he will be buried in an Anglican ceremony.

No, as it was pre-reformation, he was a West-"Roman" Christian as opposed to a "Orthodox or East Roman" Christian. Many changes to the Catholic rituals happened after the reformation. IMHO best would be an ecumenical burial or a CoE one because his successor as monarch is the Head of the CoE and can decide what to do in today's time.

[Muhler]

This is so interesting!

I find the discovery of his remains and the new details that are emerging about his life and reign to be endlessly fascinating.

Have any results from examining his remains been published? I mean in regards to cause of death? (A swift kill contrary to the common fate on medieval battlefieds - hacked to death).
His height? Build? They can tell so much from bones nowadays.

My general impression from reading about his reign is that he was basically too honest (or naive if you will) to be a good politician and being able to navigate safely in the brutal politics of the day. - Or am I completely off the mark?

[rominet09]

Fascinating... I am so looking forward to a reconstruction !!!!

[EIIR]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Have any results from examining his remains been published? I mean in regards to cause of death? (A swift kill contrary to the common fate on medieval battlefieds - hacked to death).
His height? Build? They can tell so much from bones nowadays.

The BBC summed up the findings of the University of Leicester:

• Wealth of evidence, including radiocarbon dating, radiological evidence, DNA and bone analysis and archaeological results, confirms identity of last Plantagenet king who died over 500 years ago
• DNA from skeleton matches two of Richard III's maternal line relatives. Leicester genealogist verifies living relatives of Richard III's family
• Individual likely to have been killed by one of two fatal injuries to the skull - one possibly from a sword and one possibly from a halberd (EIIR - a combined spear/battle-axe)
• Ten wounds discovered on skeleton - Richard III killed by trauma to the back of the head. Part of the skull sliced off
• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual had a high protein diet - including significant amounts of seafood - meaning he was likely to be of high status
• Radiocarbon dating reveals individual died in the second half of the 15th or in the early 16th Century - consistent with Richard's death in 1485
• Skeleton reveals severe scoliosis - onset believed to have occurred at the time of puberty
• Although around 5ft 8in tall (1.72m), the condition meant King Richard III would have stood significantly shorter and his right shoulder may have been higher than the left
• Feet were truncated at an unknown point in the past, but a significant time after the burial
• Corpse was subjected to 'humiliation injuries' - including a sword through the right buttock
• Individual had unusually slender, almost feminine, build for a man - in keeping with contemporaneous accounts
• No evidence for "withered arm" - as portrayed by Shakespeare - found
• Possibility that the individual's hands were tied
• Grave was hastily dug, was not big enough and there was no shroud or coffin

BBC News - Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king's